Triple star on a Mizzou game, this guy cashes these a lot. GL
Analysis: This one actually hurts. As those who follow me on pregame know full and well I am a Missouri guy through and through but I've also enjoyed great success in the past in knowing when to go with Mizzou and when to go the other way. This border war has simply been dominated by Illinois in the past and frankly I cannot support the Tigers to reverse the trend here. Illinois has now prevailed in this game the past nine times and some better Tiger teams than this have fallen along the way. If this game were being held at Mizzou arena I would support a play in Missouri but that of course is simply not the case. It's being held as is custom in St Louis and the Tigers have not fared well here in the past, not well at all. Missouri will come to play and of course MiŠke Anderson will have his kids playing stellar defense up and down the court all night long. My reluctance to back Missouri lies in the stubborn fact that they struggle shooting when playing away from home and they get just do not get a lot of second chances as they are a flat out horrible at getting offensive rebounds and second chances. Illinois is not particularly strong down in the post but neither is Missouri. Illinois has strong play out at the top and that is critical when dealing with the Tigers pressure defense. Illinois does NOT fold as they showed clearly earlier this year when they prevailed at Clemson overcoming a massive deficit to win in Clemsons house. This should be an incredibly entertaining game to watch as both teams are up tempo clubs that will run all night long without hesitation. I know this Tiger squad as well or better than any other capper in the country having watched them not only play but practice constantly. When push comes to shove they are still very much a work in progress and will be stronger later in the season, as for now I cannot trust the shooting away from home and that is the deciding factor here. Unless they get an unusually high amount of offensive boards and covert I just cannot see them getting this done. Effort will never be in question here guys, they will not quit. I just don't see them covering here as Illinois has a small number to get around. Triple Star Release on Illinois -2 guys.
Spartan 12/23
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